But the idea that you can find a cat or dog that won’t aggravate allergies is bunk, according to
allergists.

A study by researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit found no difference between allergens
in homes with ordinary dogs and those with supposedly hypoallergenic pooches.

The study gave more weight to what doctors routinely tell their sneezing patients.

That said, there are plenty of claims that a poodle, Wheaten terrier or
Xoloitzcuintli (you can call it a Mexican hairless) are good for allergy sufferers. All three were
on the list the American Kennel Club provided when President Barack Obama’s family was looking for
a pet that wouldn’t aggravate daughter Malia’s allergies.

The family chose Bo, a Portuguese water dog.

The AKC acknowledges that no dog is hy- poallergenic but says that certain
breeds have consistent, predictable non-shedding coats that produce less dander.

The Henry Ford team measured the most common dog allergen in thousands of homes
in the greater Detroit area, including those with supposedly hypoallergenic breeds.

“There was absolutely no difference,” said Christine Cole Johnson, senior
scientist at Henry Ford. “You certainly can’t say, ‘Well if I buy this breed, my kid’s not going to
have a problem.’”

Johnson’s other work includes research showing that a pet in the home during a
child’s first year of life protects against allergies.

At least 1 in 10 Americans is allergic to dogs or cats. Cat allergies are more
common .

People often believe that they’re allergic to the pet’s hair, said Dr. David
Hauswirth, an allergy and immunology specialist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center.

“It may be protein in their saliva, it may be from the blood or the urine, it
may be a hormone,” he said, explaining that the allergens end up in the fur and dander and spread
from there. “You’re not really allergic to the hair itself, but the proteins that are carried on
the fur and the dander.”

When someone has a severe allergy that can’t be well-managed (particularly if he
or she has asthma aggravated by allergies), removing the pet should be seriously considered,
Hauswirth said. “If you have a child with asthma who is in the hospital because of their asthma and
it was triggered by your cat, you better get rid of your cat.”

However, most people with allergies keep their pets, he said. “People will say, ‘
Thank you for telling me, but I’m not going to get rid of my pet. I’ll suffer.’”

Alleviating allergic reactions in those people comes down to medication or
allergy shots and keeping things — including the pet — clean.

Allergy shots are the best defense because they create an immunity to the
allergen rather than mask the symptoms, said Dr. Philip Rancitelli of Midwest Allergy.

Antihistamines and nasal steroids offer relief for many people, he said.

Doctors also recommend minimizing exposure to the pet — keeping it outside,
bathing it frequently and not allowing it in the allergy sufferer’s bedroom.

People considering bringing a new pet into the home should think about a trial
period if possible, Rancitelli said. Some people with allergies can tolerate some pets well, but
the only way to know if a given animal will work well is to give it a try, he said.

“There are some people (who are allergic) but they can tolerate some breeds. It’s
unpredictable, and there’s no good scientific data to support one breed over another,” Rancitelli
said.

Lisa Cavanaugh, who works at Midwest Allergy and is a patient there, said she
has felt much better around her cat, Harry, since she began getting allergy shots every two to
three weeks. She figured out she was allergic to him in 1997.

Still, Cavanaugh never considered giving up Harry, she said. “He’s part of the
family.”